Emergency Preparedness Week, May 4 to 10, coincides with the beginning of warmer weather, and with rising temperatures come unpredictable climate conditions and uncertain power systems. While we all welcome spring, it's important for the healthcare industry to consider emergency preparedness in the workplace. Hospitals, doctors' offices and labs will all have different requirements, but here are some tips to help organizations plan for the worst and streamline the process of getting back to business sooner rather than later when emergencies do strike.

1. Planning is key, even in administrative areas of healthcare organizations Prepare a workplace disaster supplies kit, including enough food and water for 24 hours, flashlights with extra batteries, a battery powered radio, and a first aid kit containing a roller gauze bandage, alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and a cold pack. If your office or division has a secondary site for emergency use, make sure everyone has directions to the backup office, so your team can calmly gather at the new site and get back to work as quickly as possible.
    
2. In emergencies, time can be short. Keep a list of employees' home phone numbers to stay in touch with workers if the main workplace is closed. Encourage employees to put together grab-and-go work kits including essential supplies and contact numbers, so they'll be able to leave quickly without leaving important material behind. This makes it easier for the organization to continue operations from home offices and secondary sites when headquarters is off limits.
    
3. Develop a backup power contingency plan by recording the size and power requirements of all building systems and the connection points for temporary backup systems such as air conditioners and power generators. This will make it easier and less expensive to bring in temporary equipment and get the business up and running again more quickly. With the information at your fingertips you'll save 30 to 50 per cent of the cost of scrambling to find those details after the emergency has already begun.
    
4. Make sure all of your plans are accessible. Keep hard copies of contact lists, directions and power requirements. Saving the data on a computer or server is a good way to ensure it's available when the power is on, but if the electricity is off the information may become inaccessible.
    
5. When relying on backup generators, remember they are only as good as the maintenance that's been done to them. Perform and log the appropriate weekly, monthly and annual inspections. And make sure you select a generator management provider such as GAL Power Systems, which offers 24-7 service for all of the above, so if the main power goes offline, your business won't follow.

Don't deceive yourself into thinking your company doesn't need to worry about an emergency. Think ahead, be prepared and your company will save time, money and hours of headaches.